Check-file



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. A. L. O OLTON.

CHECK FILB.

No. 486,434. Patented Nov. 22, 1892.

jw I c f 773 '3' w i ;I I z II I I II I E I I I I I I I I I II I I IIIWOW (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. A. L. OOLTON.

CHECK FILE.

No. 486,434. Patented Nov. 22, 1892.

w H'H'HMW" I C' AT T w vINvENTo 'v/w; W JM UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR L. COLTON, OF OLEVELAND, OHIO.

CHECK-FILE.

SPECIFICATIONforming' part of Letters Patent No. 486,434, dated November22, 1892.

Application filed May ll, 1892. Serial No. 432,548- (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR L. OoLToN, a citizen of the UnitedStates,residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State ofOhio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Check-Files;and-I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention,which will enable others skilled in the artto which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to bank-check files; and the object of theinvention is to provide a check-file in which greater convenience inassorting checks, a larger saving in space occupied by the checks andtheir files, and economy in construction are afforded.

Prior to the introduction of bank-check files, as such, it was a com moncustom in banks to use large cases of pigeon-holes, in which Were filedthe canceled checks of customers. These pigeon-hole casings are in usenow in many banks, but the necessity of economizing space, as well asthe desire for a more convenient system of handling, assorting, and

vkeeping checks has ind'uced many banks to adopt a more compact methodthan the old Way afforded of filing .their canceled checks. Thisinvention therefore is directly in the line of improvementin this art,which is calculated to render check-files more convenient than hithertoand to afford improved facilities for keeping the checks of customers.

Theinvention therefore consists in the construction of a check-filesubstantially as shown and described, and particularly pointed out inthe claims.

Reference being had to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a planview of my improved check-file, partly filled With checks,

-and the means of holding and assorting the same. Fig. 2 is across-section of the front portion of the file on linex x to show thedepth of the recess therein. Fig. 3 is a cross-section of a portion ofthe file, likewise on line x x, and designed to illustrate the positionof the supporting-arm and the back board when the contents of the fileare pressed together. Fig. 4 is a cross-section of a part of the file,like- Wise on line xx, and illustrating the contents 'of the fileloosened and'thrown back into an inclined position' and thesupporting-arm 'resting on thefioor of the file, as hereinafterdescribed. Fig. 5 is a cross-section, say, on line y y and looking intoward the back-board and shows the same and the supporting-arm in theposition disclosed in Fig. 3. Fig.6 is a perspective view of a series ofpartitions and of theintermediate custo mers7 dvision-sheets,illustrating the arrangement of these parts in the drawer. Fig. 7 is adetail of one of the customers7 division-sheets alone; and Fig. 8 is adetail of the back supporting board or piece and its supportingarm, theboard being shown in an upright position corresponding to Fig. 3.

My improved file consists of a file-box, drawer, or receptacle`A,adapted through suitable supporting mechanism to hold and operatealphabetical partitions B and intermediate customers, division-sheetsO,both said partitions and division-sheets extending entirely across thedrawer or box and of substantially equal length. The alphabeticalpartitions B are provided centrally at their top with tabs b, upon oneor both of the faces of which are placed the letters of the alphabet orother suitable distinguishing characters consecutively-as, for example,A, 13, 0, &c., or l, 2, 3, &c., and one or more characters may be placedupon each tab, according to the number of subdivisions one may desire tomake. Intermediate of these partitions are the customers7diVision-'sheets, and there may be as many of these division-sheets inany given subdivision as there are customers whose names begin with theletter or letters represented in that subdivision-that is, if thesubdivision be represented by A, all the customers whose names beginwith A will go in there, and if the tab bear letters A 13, then all theAs and B7s would go in there, and so on. To make this clear, I willrefer to Fig. 6, where I /have two partition-boards with tabs a at theirce/nter and marked with characters A and B, respectively. Intermediateof these partitions are six several customers, sheets O, and thesesheets are each formed with tabs c at their top edge, said tabs in thiscase being cut from the material of the sheets themselves and projectingabove the edge of the sheet proper, so as to clearly disclose the namethey bear.

' It will be observed that, beginning at the left, the first sheet hasat the base of its tab the characters A B '*C D, and diagonally at theright is a second tab bearing the characters E 'F "G H, and so on to theend of the alphabet, the successive tabs being out of line with oneanother for convenience of reference from front or rear. Above thesecharacters on thetabs are blanks for the names of customers, and a fewof the tabs have names written on to show the mannerof using thesheets.Thus, assuming that a customercomes whose name is John Adams, the clerkthen gets a sheet which has the letter 'J on it, and writes thecustomerls name on the tab. The sheet is then put in the A subdivisionand in its place in the line in the subdivision. If the first orChristian name commenced with 1,77 J, or K it would come in the sameline, and, the surname being Adams, it would come in the A division. Ifthe name were John Smith, a customeris sheet bearing letter J Would beselected, and when the name was written on it it would be put in the Ssubdivision. The customers7 sheets are kept in stock and are adaptedalike to all subdivisions of the alphabet, the Christian name of thecustomer determining into which subdivision it should go. The checks ofeach customer are placed immediately before his sheet, and by arrangingthe tabs and names, as herein described, the eye can instantly detectany nameit wants and refer directly to the customers checks, assortedunder his name.

The spaces between the division-sheets adjust themselves in width to thenumber or quantity of checks placed therein, so that with a fileequipped, for example, like the one shown in Fig. 1, and havingcorresponding length there is room for the bestowal of a great number ofchecks. Of course the size or length of the drawer or box may be greateror less than that shown, if desired. The file-box is of suitable widthand height to hold checks filed on their edges crosswise of the file;but usually is made wider than the length of a check, which adapts it tore' ceive a more liberal subdivision of the alphabet between the severalpartitions A B C, dac., or other corresponding characters.

Both the partition-boards B and the customers* division-sheets C areshown here with projections b' and c', respectively, at their ends,which are adapted to rest upon the cleats or strips E,along the insideof the drawer on both sdes thereof. These cleats are of such elevationfrom the bottom of the drawer that when the said division-sheets orpartitions are resting at an inclination, say, as shown in Fig. theproject-ions b' and c' thereof will rest upon said cleats and help tosustain the said partitions and sheets; but when the said parts are inVertical position-as, for example, in Fig. 3--the projections b' and e'will of course be up from the said cleats and will not rest thereon. Nowin order that the said partition'and division-sheets may be .held in anydesired position, whether compacted, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, orloose, so as to incline and make the checks between them available to behandled, as shown in Fig. 4,1 employ a back supporting board or plate orits equivalent D, which is constructed, essen- 'tially, like one of thepartitions B and is pro- Vided at about its center on the back with aneye d, adapted to receive an arm G. This arm is made, preferably, ofheavy Wire, With its outer extremity bent down substantially at rightangles from the point of engagement with part D and adapted to serve asa brace to the said part when it is inclined, as in Fig. 4. At itsopposite end the said wire is bent spirally several times around the rodI-I, which runs lengthwise of the drawer beneath the cleat E on one sideof the drawer. By bending the wire, as shown at g', several timessomewhat closely around the said rod H an extended friction-bearing isgiven to the arm G, which admirably serves my purpose. Thus when theholding devices and the checks are to be forced compactly together, aswhen the file is closed, the back board D and its supporting-arm arecarried forward by the hand until the file is made as compact asdesired. Then the hand is released and the parts are held firmly inposition by the said arm,which is free from the board D, except at theeye or plate (Z. By reason of the back-pressure of the file being thusbrought against the extremity of the arm, where it passes through theeye cl, the bearing g' is caused to have such tight frictionalengagement upon the rod H that it is held firmly thereon, and thegreater the pressure against the board D the tighter the arm holds uponits bearing. Then in case it be desired to release the file and remove acheck the bearing g' is seized by the fingers and the parts are carriedback as far as desired, when the file becomes loose and the check caneasily be removed. In this latter operation, when the back piece D isthrown into an inclined position, as seen in Fig. 4, the extremity g ofthe rod comes down and rests upon the bottom of the file and forms afirm brace to said back piece and helps to support the said back piecein an inclined position against any pressure that may come against it.

It will be observed that the tabs of the customers7 division-sheets comeupon opposite sides of the longitudinal center of the drawer which isoccupied by the tabs of the partitions, so that an unobstructed view ofthe tabs on the partitions is aifordefhwhether one looks from the frontor the rear. By constructing the parts as herein shown I am enabled tobestow a number of customers7 division-sheets between each of thepartitions, and if lettered as here shown three will come on one side ofthe center and three on the other. This gives me a system of doubleindexing, and the customers names are shown in six distinct places orcolumns instead of all following each other in one column. Again, by

this system of double indexing the proper column is known and the eye inits search has to cover but one-sixth of the names it would need tocover if the names were all placed in one column. The customers7division-sheets being preferably made of tag-board, they occupy theleast possible space, yet are strong and firm enough for every purpose.Much room is thus saved for liling purposes between them. Any of thepartitions may be changed from one file to another.

In Figs. 1 and 2 I show a recess a' at the front of the file-box, whichis cut to a point below the top of the partitions. This prevents thecontents of the file getting out of easy reach by lying closely againstthe front of the file-box and enables one to insert the finger and pressthe contents back to loosen up the contents.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a check-file, the construction herein described, consisting of therigid drawershaped holder,and a series of movable partitions in saidholder, disconnected therefrom and provided with tabs centrally at theirtop edge and projecting above said edge and lettered or numberedconsecutively, in combination with intermediate customers7divisionsheets having tabs at their top at either side of the line oftabs on the said division-sheets, substantially as described.

2. A bank-check file consisting of a drawershaped holder, a series ofseparate removable partitions lettered or numbered consecutivelyl anddisconnected from said holder, and a series of independent customers,division-sheets between said partitions, each of said sheets having atab projecting above said edge and provided with one or more charactersand a blank space for a customer's name, substantially as described.

3. The receptacle or holder having a fixed rod lengthwise at one side,the back supporting piece or plate for the contents of the file, and anarm having pivoted and sliding connection upon said rod and bearingagainst said back plate, substantially as described.

4. The receptacle and a rod longitudinally along inside thereof, asupporting-arm having a sliding lbearing on said rod, and aback plate orpiece to support the contents of the file held by said arm,substantially as described.

5. The file-holder and the rod lengthwise at one side thereof, incombination with the back plate, an arm having a slidin g bearing onsaid rod,pivotally engaged with the back plate at about its center, andsaid arm provided with a downwardly-extending portion to brace the backplate in inclined position7 substantially as described.

6. The file-holder having ledges along its sides and the partitions anddivision-sheets constructed at their ends to rest on said ledges wheninclined, in combination with the back plate forxning a support for thecontents of the file and an arrn to hold said back plate, having a legto rest on the bottom of the holder and arranged to slide back and forthin the holder on a friction-bearing at the side of said holder,substantially as described.

ARTHUR L. OOLTON.

W'itnesses:

H. T. FISHER, NELLIE L. MOLANE.

